Global Compact Network Kenya and I&M Bank Launch Supplier Sustainability Building Programme

Sustainable value chains depend on the capacity of businesses of all sizes to operate responsibly. Recognising this, I&M Bank, a subsidiary of the UN Global Compact participant I&M Group PLC. in collaboration with the Global Compact Network Kenya, has launched a supplier sustainability programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and build more resilient businesses.

Launched in Nairobi on 21 August 2026, the I&M Supplier Sustainability Capacity Building Programme opened with a half-day session on responsible business conduct. Across the six-eight-week hybrid programme, an estimated cohort of 70 suppliers will participate in three training sessions, receiving practical guidance, ESG self-assessment tools and improvement roadmaps covering environmental sustainability, climate action, social responsibility and governance.

Up to two-thirds of a company’s ESG footprint can originate in its supply chain, underscoring the importance of extending responsible business practices beyond a company’s direct operations. For the UN Global Compact, this means moving beyond punitive audits towards collaborative capacity building, particularly for SMEs, while integrating procurement into broader corporate sustainability strategies.

This approach is particularly relevant in Africa, where SMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses, contribute around 40 per cent of the continent’s GDP and provide an estimated 60 to 80 per cent of jobs. Yet, despite their economic importance, African SMEs face significant barriers to growth, including limited access to finance. The unmet SME financing gap acrossAfrica is estimated at between US$330 billion and US$421 billion, highlighting the need for approaches that strengthen both business sustainability and long-term competitiveness.

The programme reflects a growing understanding that sustainability cannot be addressed within the boundaries of large companies alone. SMEs are integral to corporate supply chains, and, by strengthening their capacity to identify risks and improve business practices, companies can contribute to more responsible and resilient value chains.

For participating suppliers, ESG can translate into practical business decisions, from managing energy and waste more efficiently to strengthening workplace practices, governance systems and risk management. These improvements can support resilience and help SMEs respond to growing sustainability expectations from corporate buyers, financial institutions and international markets.

For I&M Bank, the initiative extends sustainability considerations beyond its own operations to the wider ecosystem that supports its business. I&M Bank Group Chief Financial Officer David Ngata captured this interdependence, noting that "a resilient Bank requires a resilient ecosystem around it.”

The partnership with the Global Compact Network Kenya brings a capacity-building approach to this ambition. Rather than treating sustainability solely as a compliance requirement, the programme will support suppliers to assess their current practices, identify gaps and take progressive steps towards improvement.

Judy Njino, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Kenya, highlighted the importance of investing in the sustainability capacity of SMEs, recognising their contribution to Kenya’s economy and the resilience of its value chains.

As sustainability requirements increasingly shape procurement and market access, initiatives such as this can help ensure that SMEs are not left behind. By combining business expectations with practical support, I&M Bank and the UN Global Compact Network Kenya are demonstrating how stronger supplier capacity can contribute to more responsible, competitive and resilient value chains.